Tide-motor.



N. S. EDBNS.

@mi messes TIDE MOTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. s, 1909.

Patented Mar.29,1910.

2 SHEETS-BHBET 1.

@Hof/m43 N. S EDENS.

TIDE MoToR.

g5 396%@9 APPLICATION FILED MAB. 5, 1909. Mar' 29,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Witwe/.mao l NOAH S, EDENS, OF HIGHLAND, CALFORNIA.

TIDE-MOTOR.

ceases.

Application 'filed March 5, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 191).

Serial No. 481,263.

lo all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, Noarr S. Ennns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Highland, in the county of San Bernardino and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tide-Motors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wave and tide motors, the object of theinvention being to provide a simple and eflicient construction ofapparatus which will receive the impact and lifting power of the wavesand the swell of the tides of a river, ocean or sea. and convert theirforces into mechanical energyT in such a form as to be readily andeconomically utilized.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which will compress air for storage and use, which is notliable to be injured under ordinary conditions and will, to a largeextent, compensate for variations in the roughness of the water toprevent the transmission of undue strain to its working parts, and,which, when the water is very rough, as in the case of a severe storm,may be readily thrown out of operation.

lith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construetion, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fullydescribed, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a vertical. section through thelower portion of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar view through theupper portion of the same. F ig. 3 is a detail view of the rodconnection between the head of the motor shaft and piston of one of thecompressors.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a pier, wharf or other suitablesupporting structure, having an opening Q for the upward passage of anupright motor shaft or axle 3, which is of suitable length according tothe power of the motor and preferably tapers uniformly toward its upperend. The lower end of the shaft is threaded to receive a nut 4, uponwhich rests a washer 5 against which bears the lower' l'langed end of asleeve 6, which terminates below the top of the pier and is free forupward sliding movement on the shaft. Journaled upon the sleeve is amotor comprising a hollow chamber or float 7, preferably formed of metaland having a hemispherical upper portion and a tinted l l l i lowerportion, the liutcs providing a series of pockets or concavities 8contracting the base portion of the float and extending outwardly andupwardly on proper arcs to provide curved impact faces against which thewaves and currents of the body of the `water in which the vfloat isimmersed are adapted to strike, so that irrespective of the direction ofmotion of the waves or currents, either lateral or vertical motion willbe communicated thereby to the float, so that the applied power ineither case may be utilized. The inner curved walls of the pockets orconcavities also provide surfaces against which the impulse of the waterfrom the rising and falling of a stream influenced by tides will affecta vertical movement of the float and shaft, whereby motion of the waterin any direction may be converted into working energy. rhe lowercontracted portion of the iioat is lilled with a suitable ballastingmaterial S), acting by gravity to maintain it in a more or less erectposition at all times.

rllhe float is free for an easy revoluble movement on the sleeve G, sothat it may turn to prevent injury to the apparatus in case there shouldbe a dangerous swirl or maelstromic action of the water around or in thevicinity of the same. Flanges 10 and 11 hold the float from upward ordownward displacement on the sleeve, and to the flange 11 of said sleeveare pivoted dogs 12 having inwardly curved upper ends to engage recesses123 in the shaft to normally hold the sleeve and float against upwardmovement. The locking ends of the dog are connected by links .14k with acollar 15 encircling the shaft, from which collar rods, ropes or cables1G extend upwardly through the opening Qv in the support to a pointabove the same for convenient manipulation to adjust the collar up anddown and thereby, through the action of the links, throw the dogs intoand out of locking position. By an upward pull, the dogs will first bereleased and the float may then be elevated a safe distance above thesurface of the water to prevent injury to the apparatus during violentstorms or when the water is exceptionally rough.

A power storer or generator is operated by the action of the float underthe intluence of the water and comprises an air compression apparatus,from which the air may be pumped into a suitable storage tank andemployed to drive a dynamo or other machinery. Said power' storer orgenerator comprises a supporting frame formed ot a series otl rods orstandards ll' extending upwardly from the pier or wharf l and united byarmed brackets, heads or spiders 1S and 19 and an armed crosshead ortraveler 20, arranged above the lower head l) and having its armsprovided with eyes slidably engaging the rods. The body portion ot' thesaid crosshead or traveler forms a bearing for the upper end ot theshat't and provided with an opening 2l for the passage of said shaft.the lower end ot' said opening being flared. as at Secured to the uppersurface ot the body portion is a cap plate 23 having a central opening24, the walls ot' said openings 2l and 24 forming a curved seat orsocket for Jthe reception ot a partially spherical head or journal 25 onthe shaft, whereby the shaft and traveler are connected for verticalmovement in unison, while the shat't is free to turn about its axis andmove laterally in any direction, thus providing a practically universalpoint bearing to permit the shaft to have these movements withoutbinding. Clamped upon the upper end oit the shaft between a collar ortiange and a nut 2T is a coupling head comprising bottom plate 2S and atop plate detachably secured thereto. This head is connected with thearms ot the traveler by a series of coiled springs BO. These springs areannularly arranged around the upper end of the shaft and yieldinglyresist i the rotary movement ot the shat't in either direction. By thismeans the shat't is permitted to turn to a necessary degree tocompensate for any twisting strain falling thereon7 but is preventedfrom turning' to such an extent as to strain or damage the pumpmechanism. The plate Q8 is provided at its outer edge with semicircularseat recesses 3l and the plate 29 is provided with tlaring openings 32registering with said recesses.

Arranged between and supported by the heads or spiders 1S and 19 is anannular group of main compressorcylinders 33 inclining inwardly andupwardly in compact t'orm. said cylinders beingl disposed tor operationin pairs, the cylinders ot each pair being provided in the upperportions ot their adjacent t'aces with slots S' and having at theirlower ends discharge nipples Zio. In the lower portion ot each cyiinderoperates a piston 3o. whose rod 3'? extends upwardly and is connected bya cross bar with the piston rod ot the companion c vlinder7 said barmoving in the slots -i. whereg l head 1S and connected at their upperends by a crown piece 4-0. These cylinders 3S) are arranged forindividual cooperation with each pair of the cylinders 33, each cylinder39 having its lower end, open and arranged between the upper ends of theassociated pair of cylinders 33,aiid being' provided at its upper endwith a discharge nipple 4l. In each cylinder 39 works a piston 42 whoserod 43 extends down vard through the open end thereof and is connectedwith the cross bar 38. which thus couples all three pistons t'orsynchronous operation. Discharge pipes in practice may lead from thenipples 35 and il to a tank in which the air supplied from thecompressors may be stored for use. or provision may be made forsupplying the air direct to the apparatus to be driven. The cross bars38 are connected to the coupling head ot the shaft 3 by rods d eachthreaded atv its lower end, as at dal to adjustably receive a threadedsleeve 46, provided with a ball or rounded portion ell, the upper end ofeach rod being formed with a similar ball or rounded portion -lS. Thesleeves 46 of the series ot rods work in the flared openings 32 in theupper plate 29 of the coupling head. while the rounded portions arefitted to articulate in the sockets formed between the two coupling headplates 2S and 29 by the seats 3l and walls ot the. openings 32. by whichthe rods are attached to the coupling head for universal pivotal motion.The rounded portions otf the upper ends ot the rods seat in semicircularrecesses if) in angular bosses or bearing portions 50 formed on thecross bars 3S. which bosses are externally threaded to receiveinternally threaded retaining caps 51. each having an opening 52 flaredat its outer end and communicating at its inner end with a semicircularrecess 53, the recesses di) and forming a socket in which the roundedportion 48 of the associate rod articulates` whereby the rods areattached to the respective cross bars for universal pivotal motion.

It will be seen that provision is made for adjusting' the rods as tolength and adjustingl the balls within the sockets to compensate forwear and operate with great-er or less freedonn and that the rods areadapted f to move both vertically and laterally.

by the pistons ot each pair of cylinders are 1 coupled to operate inunison. Disposed above the cylinders is an annular group of auxiliarycylinders 39 which also incline 1I :inwardly and upwardly in compactrelation and are supported at their lower ends by the As the float risesand falls with the tide. waves or currents. it will be apparent that theshaft 3 will be reciprocated vertically. and that as a consequencemotion will be transmitted through the connecting' rods to reciprocatethe pistons within their cylinders whereby charges ot compressed airwill be on the working strokes ot the pistons discharged through thenipples and into the storage tank or proper portion ot the machineconnected therewith. Arny action ot the vater on the float whichvibrates or moves the float laterally will also vibrate the shaft. andin this operation the coop ling head will tilt or cant the couplinglhead and thus operate oertain of the. piatons in alternation with theothere'. it the tioat is both moved veitioalljyv and late lall)VY bv thewaten the rods will compensate tor auch movements and5 aS in the easeet' lateral intr tion solely, reverse #Sonie or the pistone on theirworking' Stroke and Home on their tiirn Stroke. ltwill then be apparentthat proviaion is made tor utilizing` and convert ing into mechanical.energyi the toi-eee resulting from an)7 and all the motion@` of thewater troni winda, tides and other aiiiaea and that this ia accomplishedbv adapting' the tloat to have what might be milled nnivereal motion andadapting' the partey optor siieh ino- "ed to the erated therebv tocompensate tion. it the tloat elioiild be Siibie 2o action ot a swirlingoiiirent it will Hinipljf '-otate on ita axis; and thiisl prevent injirvto the remaining partel ot the apparat whilef it any oi" tliia rotarvn'iotioii slioiild be tranfsinitted to t ahattt seit-,h

25 the Shaft will be limited bjr the e -i' wherebfiv iniiiiv in this`event to t generator storer will l p evented t; motion et the 'Vater if;veri-i violent. aS liiri i i the lioat inav be eje :io fi rribed to pretent dann/ig",

fr ad lonf red ritter the wai' in early calmed.

From the foregoing dear-,riptionr` t in eonneetion with the dra-wing theeonati tion and inode ot operation oi wave and tide water nioni w il;7understood and apiirecir-rted1 and it be eeen that a jvpe ot apparati-iais prodiieed which ma;T be operated in an eronoinical manner.

' thiie deeei'ibed inv invention what vor of the Pharaoter deeeribedeing a tinted lower porb l .i5 tion pooletn or vitieal and a irte Spareand ballaei meer aeter t eeeribezil al -i for ietraoting Said ivatn yaidtloat.

- d oeribed ina rofl i1, (.ablj. and hatt., locking` tron sliding i nwhile perand ineana a id elevatatl .. i Y t dablv and on the :ehiltr`pivoted -Leeiirmg said tloat against SOG aml tor ietiaetingA ie. tloat.

motor al the e 'i ao-ier desoiibed including' a .'oii or slia'ttf aleeve alidablj. Eioiznted thereonl a tloai ionrnaled for rota- -l aleeveand adapted to Slide lof'l i nl Llleove to ,lilf btlltl eleeve and (i,inoior ot' the Cliarai'iter deseiibed Comprisingv a support, a rod orahait nioiinted 'tor rotarY vertical rei-.iproeatorj and lateral pivotalinoveinente on said support, a tioat carried bv the rod or elialit,means tor vieldingl'v i'eaiating rotary movement oit the eliat't. apower generator, and a nniveraallv jointed connection between A#aid rodor slia'tt and generator.

'i'. i motor ot the Character described toinprising' a trame, a rod oi?Shaft mounted for vertical and lateral inoveinentet on the 'trainer atioat Jor imparting,` motion thereto.. a group ol piinip evlindere.pietona operatiirej therein`r and roda pivotallv Connecting :said rodand pistons.

A motor olf he Cha 'aeter described eilnnpiiing a traine, a 'zliattmoiinted tor ing the eame7 a serie ot Compression eylin dere` piatonaoperating in cylinders and oonneeted in multiple5 and roda pi\'ot.;in},'oonneeting; said sshatt with the groupe o'l" inaltiplv Connectedpiatona.

il. motor ot the Character described eoinprieing a traine, a Shattinoiinted 'tor Vertical reeiproeatorv and lateral pivotal inovementis onsaid traine, a inain group ot eonipieasor cylindershaving' pistonsoperatingl therein and connected in multiple, a `group ot auxiliarycompressor Cylinders, having' pistons operating therein and oonneoteiwith the pistone ot the main gronin a tloat Ator operating' said Shaft,and rods pivetall)v connecting the Shaft with Said iniiltiplv connectedpiatona.

l0. motor et the character described comprising a support, a. rod orShaft inoiint.- ed tor vertical reeiproeatorv movement and 1ateralpivotal movement on said Supportl` a i'loat lslidablv mounted on eaidrod or shaft, looking' means 'for holding` the tloat in norinalpoaition, menne tor releasing' braid loelA ing means and elevating' the'flo-at, and a power generator operated b v the vertical and lateralinovementa ot the ehalt.

11. motor of the elniraeter described eonipriaing a vertieall)Y andlaterallyv inovable rod or shaft, a 'Float slidabl;Y and rotatabliYmounted thereon. locking' means Vfor holding' tloat neri il wor-hinglposition. mein tor releaeing and elevating the floatyq rimer gjeiie atorraving a reeiproeating; member.` and a ooiiiiei'rtion tor reriplocatingsaid lnembell under the Vertical and lateral movement of the l'od.

12. A motor of the character described Comprising a frame, a l'od havinga Sliding pivotal connection with the frame, a float carried by J(herod, a group of power generators having leolprocatng elements, a headearned by the rod, Jolnted eonneotlons bet-Ween the Saud reolprooatlngelements and I the head, and controlling springs connecting 10 Said headwith the frame.

In testimony whereof I ax lny signature in presence of two Witnesses.

NOAH S. EDENS.

fitnesses C. F. LA FOLLETTE, J. KUNZMANN.

